The Transport and Environment Committee of City of Edinburgh Council scheduled a meeting to discuss a range of issues, including the City Mobility Plan Capital Investment Programme, the Edinburgh Taxicard Review, and recycling rates in UK cities. The committee was also scheduled to consider petitions relating to road safety and anti-social behaviour.

City Mobility Plan Capital Investment Programme

The committee was scheduled to discuss an update on the City Mobility Plan (CMP) Capital Investment Programme for 2025/26, with a focus on sustainable transport and active travel. The discussion was to include a response to a motion by Councillor Chas Booth on Liveable Neighbourhoods for Leith, and a response to Councillor Booth's motion on delays to delivery of the Active Travel Investment Programme. The report pack stated that an additional £140,000 had been confirmed from the Transport Scotland ATIF fund for construction in 2025/2026, to introduce further traffic calming measures, make further improvement to footways such as additional decluttering, improvements to modal filters and new crossing points associated with the liveable neighbourhood elements of the project.

The report pack also stated that officers were undertaking internal actions to enhance the efficiency of delivery of projects, including:

• Extending the internal Project Management Office function to all Transport Strategy and Partnerships.
• Creating a service-wide programme within Transport Strategy and Partnerships to support better planning of inputs from other teams.
• Enhancing internal project assurance processes to minimise any delay caused by handover of new / improved assets to maintenance teams.
• Undertaking an internal review of Traffic Regulation Order processes and resources.
• Re-focussing an existing Active Travel Programme Board to focus on delivery.
• Exploring a re-focus of staff resources internally with a greater focus on delivery of projects.
• Continuing internal knowledge sharing to ensure lessons are learnt from previous projects.
• Exploring ways to make processes more efficient in the development of projects.

Edinburgh Taxicard Review

The committee was scheduled to consider the findings of a review of the Edinburgh Taxicard scheme, including survey results, focus group feedback, and benchmarking data from other local authorities. The Edinburgh Taxicard Review presented a series of options for changes to the scheme, and the committee was to consider which option to approve.

The report pack noted that a motion had been approved by Councillor Staniforth to review the Edinburgh Taxicard scheme, and that the review had identified a real-terms erosion of journey discount value, which had not increased in line with taxi fares.

The report pack stated that the annual subsidy per cardholder under the Edinburgh Taxicard scheme was comparable with other authorities, and that survey participants were largely satisfied with the number of journeys permitted under the Edinburgh scheme.

The report pack stated that the committee was to consider a recommendation to approve option package A, which would:

• Limit eligibility to those who receive certain disability benefits or who complete an enhanced questionnaire.
• Maintain the current application process, including £20 application fee.
• Maintain the paper card format.
• Increase the maximum subsidy to £5 per journey, but reduce permitted annual journeys by 25%.

The report pack also stated that officers were planning to make the following changes to the current Taxicard service:

• Refresh and update the list of 'approved agencies' who can verify the eligibility criteria form.
• Clarify in eligibility criteria form that the Taxicard is only for those with a permanent disability expected to last 12 months or more.
• Reorder eligibility criteria questions so that the question relating to whether the applicant is a wheelchair user does not come first.
• Clarify on the Council website that the Taxicard is open to everyone with any permanent disability who finds it difficult to use buses.
• Add requirement for applicants to demonstrate proof of address when applying for the Taxicard scheme.
• Clarify on the Council website that Taxicard holders have the option to use their Taxicard for taxis (Central Taxis only) hailed on street.
• Update Council database with journey usage data from Central Taxis and thereafter, block all Taxicards that have already exceeded their annual 104 journey limit.
• Remove the free rail travel element of the Taxicard scheme.
• Restart the notification system so Taxicard holders are alerted when they are near and at their 104-journey limit.

Strategic Review of Parking

The committee was scheduled to receive an Annual Update on the Strategic Review of Parking, including progress on different phases, Traffic Regulation Order advertisements, and satisfaction surveys. The report pack stated that the committee was to consider retaining streets in the Abbeyhill area in the N6 Controlled Parking Zone, noting positive survey results.

Road Works Coordination - Infrastructure Forum

The committee was scheduled to discuss Road Works Coordination and the feasibility of establishing a Council chaired Infrastructure Forum to improve collaboration and co-ordination between the Council and key agencies involved in infrastructure works. The report pack stated that the committee was to consider the potential structure, role, and responsibilities of such a forum, and recommendations for immediate actions to strengthen co-ordination and minimise disruptions for residents.

Traffic Regulation Order – Pentland Hills Regional Park

The committee was scheduled to consider a Traffic Regulation Order for the Pentland Hills Regional Park; Bonaly, Harlaw and Threipmuir Car Parks. The report pack stated that the committee was to consider adding all areas of the delineated car park at Bonaly Country Park, all areas of the delineated car park in the vicinity of Harlaw Reservoir and all areas of the delineated car park in the vicinity of Threipmuir Reservoir to a new zone of the Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), and approving the setting of charges.

Trade Waste in Edinburgh

The committee was scheduled to discuss Trade Waste in Edinburgh, including re-establishing a trade waste service and investigating the opportunity to allow disposal of trade waste at recycling centres. The report pack stated that the committee was to consider options for creating parity between purpose-built student accommodation developments and other commercial premises, by requiring PBSA operators to seek private waste and recycling provision for their sites, and clarifying the Council's position on whether short-term lets should be liable to use commercial waste and recycling services.

Update on Reform of the Council's Transport Companies

The committee was scheduled to receive an Update on Reform of the Council's Transport Companies, and to consent to the appointment of Sarah Boyd as Chief Executive of Lothian Buses Limited and Board Member of Edinburgh Trams Limited, and to the appointment of Susan Deacon as Chair of the Board of Edinburgh Trams Limited following the next Board meeting in November 2025.

City Centre West to East Cycle Link 12 Month Monitoring and Lessons Learned

The committee was scheduled to discuss the City Centre West to East Cycle Link 12 Month Monitoring and Lessons Learned, and to note the outcomes of the 12 month post-implementation monitoring for the City Centre West to East Cycle Link and Street Improvements (CCWEL) project, and the associated log of Lessons Learned and recommendations for development and delivery of future active travel projects.

Audit Scotland Report on Sustainable Transport: Reducing Car Use

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Audit Scotland Report on Reducing Car Use, and in particular to the recommendation on measurable KPIs, costs and timescales.

Public Toilets in Town Centres and Haymarket

The committee was scheduled to discuss Public Toilets in Town Centres and Haymarket, and to agree for an updated survey of existing facilities to be undertaken ahead of any potential investment opportunities in existing facilities, and to progress opportunities for new facilities if investment funding is available to provide them.

Comparison of recycling rates in UK cities

The committee was scheduled to discuss a Comparison of recycling rates in UK cities, and to note the challenges and risks associated with re-entering the commercial waste collection market, and the uncertainties associated with the current legislative situation with regard to accepting commercial waste at household waste recycling centres.

Petitions

The committee was scheduled to consider two petitions:

• A petition regarding a dangerous road junction in Gogarloch.
• A petition regarding nightly anti-social behaviour and vehicle use in South Queensferry.

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